The start of the fourth T20I between India and South Africa continues to be delayed as thick fog refuses to lift, forcing match officials to repeatedly assess visibility conditions at the venue.
After the latest inspection around 8:00 pm local time, there was still no positive update. On-ground reporter Aayush confirmed that the fog had, in fact, become denser, significantly reducing visibility across the field. The umpires carried out another detailed visibility test, with one official standing near the pitch and the other moving towards the boundary to check whether players and the ball could be clearly seen.
With conditions showing no improvement, officials have now scheduled the next inspection at 8:30 pm local time. South African players, who had briefly stepped out for warm-ups earlier in the evening, have once again returned to the dressing room.
Former South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn, speaking on the broadcast, expressed concern over the prospects of getting a game underway. He noted that if play does not begin soon, it could become extremely difficult to stage even a shortened contest due to worsening visibility and time constraints.
As of now, there has been no announcement on over reductions, but the repeated delays have put the match in jeopardy. A final call is expected after the 8:30 pm inspection, which will determine whether conditions are safe enough for the toss and start of play.
